Heartfelt tribute to Craig Finberg
Columbia Falls and Dillon have squared off on the court in boys basketball many times. But when the Wildcats and Beavers met in for the Class A championship Saturday night at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, it was very special — and emotional.
In a game for all the marbles in Class A, Dillon came out on top, 54-50. But it wasn't all about who won. There were no losers in this game.
Craig Finberg is a 1975 graduate of Columbia Falls High School. He's in the CFHS Hall of Fame. Craig led the Wildcats to the state championship game as a senior in 1975. He coached Beaverhead County (Dillon) for 20 years before moving to the college ranks as an assistant at Montana Western in Dillon. In the meantime, younger brother Cary has been head coach of the C-Falls boys team for 14 seasons.
It was almost like Craig was there on the sideline Saturday night.
Craig was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer in late January. He and his wife, Tammy, traveled to Zion, Ill., for five days of chemotherapy. As a tribute to Craig, the six coaches on the C-Falls boys staff wore "Finny" T-shirts during the Wildcats' game against Whitefish on Feb. 13. "Don't give up … Don't ever give up!" was printed on the front of the shirt, and "Finny" on the back. Both Craig and Cary have been known as "Finny" during their coaching careers. Wildcat players wore the same T-shirts during warm-ups.
Former North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano coined the phrase, "Don't give up … Don't ever give up!" after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1992.
The V Foundation was established in 1993 and has raised more than $80 million to fund cancer research grants.
IN SUPPORT of Craig and his family, Dave Yeats, Bruce Adams and Joe Smith coordinated a fundraiser in which "Finny" T-shirts were sold. Orders came pouring in and more than 200 of the shirts were sold. Parents and other Wildcat supporters wore the "Finny" shirts during the divisional tournament in Kalispell.
When C-Falls qualified for state, the flood of white and blue continued at the Four Seasons Arena last weekend. Net proceeds from the sale, supported by T-shirt supplier Universal Athletics in Kalispell, went toward the Finbergs' medical and travel expenses.
In addition, more than $3,000 was raised the night of the C-Falls-Whitefish girls and boys games through sale of Schwan's products.
Other fundraisers have been held in Dillon as well.
What you saw when C-Falls and Dillon teams came onto the court for pre-game warm-ups before the championship contest sent a shiver down your spine. The Wildcats were wearing their "Finny" T-shirts. Players on the Beaver squad wore shirts with their uniform number on the back and "Finny" above it. It was uniform support for Craig Finberg and his entire extended family.
Terry Thomas is now the head coach of the Beavers. He and his assistants were introduced along with their counterparts from C-Falls just before tip-off Saturday.
There were more than handshakes exchanged when they met at mid-court; it was embraces all around.
It truly was a family affair at Four Seasons Arena, with the outpouring of love and admiration for Craig overshadowing the game itself. And that's the way it should have been.
Craig has not lived in Columbia Falls for more than two decades, and I have not had the pleasure of meeting him, but his presence is still felt here. Our community is proud to show its support for one of our "favorite sons."
To all the Finbergs and their families our prayers have been with you. Craig will always be a role model for athletes well beyond Columbia Falls and Dillon. He will always say, "Don't give up … Don't ever give up!"
Joe Sova is the managing editor of the Hungry Horse News.